LeBron James cements legacy by bringing Cavaliers an NBA title

When the long and painful 52-year wait had ended, LeBron James dropped to his knees and began sobbing.

His dream, his mission really, was to bring a championship to Cleveland, and when James crossed the finish line late Sunday, the best player on the planet was overcome with emotion.

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"This is what I came back for," he said. "I'm at a loss for words. It doesn't feel real right now."

The self-proclaimed King from Akron finally delivered the city of Cleveland a championship when the Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors, 93-89, to complete the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history and secure James' place as one of the greatest to ever play the game.

LeBron James finally accomplishes what he's set out to do from the start of his career: bring Cleveland a title. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The third time was really a charm for James, who previously won two championships with the Miami Heat. But this one was different. Cleveland is home for James. He left the city to chase championships and, upon returning two summers ago, he made a promise to northeast Ohio that he would bring it a title.

No team had ever overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, but then very few teams ever had a player like LeBron James — a dominant force whose all-around game was simply too much for the Warriors to handle.

LeBron James brings Cleveland Cavaliers their first NBA title in franchise history

Jamess posted a triple-double in Game 7: 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He became only the third player in NBA history to record a triple double in Game 7, joining Laker greats Jerry West and James Worthy.

"There's no denying what he was able to accomplish this series," a dejected Curry said after Game 7. "He played great basketball."

Curry entered the night feeling he had to play his best game of the season to get the Warriors one more win. He didn't come close. He finished with 17 points on 19 shots and had a disastrous fourth quarter. Curry went 1-for-5 with a careless behind-the-back turnover in the last quarter of the season.

The regular-season unanimous MVP's only points of the fourth were a game-tying three with 6:57 left. But with the season on the line, Curry and the Warriors produced just six points the rest of the way and were shut out over the last 4:39. Curry was involved in the series-clinching basket; Kyrie Irving, who was brilliant in the series, buried a deep three over Curry with 53 seconds left that gave Cleveland the lead for good.

Curry had lived a charm life for most of the past two seasons, but in Game 6 he fouled out and was ejected. Then Game 7 was a struggle.

"It will haunt me for a while," Curry said.

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate a hard-won victory after defeating the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry, 93-89, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Sunday night to claim the championship. Cleveland had not won the title in 52 years. (New York Daily News)

The Warriors ended their season with their first three-game losing streak since November 2013. They lost nine of 82 games during the regular season, only to go 15-9 in the playoffs. They also lost their final two home games after dropping just three games at Oracle Arena prior to Game 5.

When James received the Bill Russell MVP trophy, his teammates began chanting "M-V-P," a scene that seemed improbable a week ago. But with Draymond Green suspended for Game 5, the series took a dramatic shift.

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James and Irving each scored 41 in Game 5 to get the series back to Cleveland. James then scored 41 on Thursday to force a winner-take-all Game 7.

"There are not many guys in the NBA who get a chance to play in a Game 7," James said. "And I've been victorious twice."

This victory gave the Cavaliers franchise the first championship in its 45 years of existence. More importantly, it is Cleveland's first sports title since Jim Brown led the Browns to the NFL Championship in 1964.

"We made history," Irving said.

James collapses after winning his most emotional, impressive title yet. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)

Through six games, the series was compelling, but it failed to deliver much drama until the last game of the 2015-16 season. Golden State had a 76-75 lead entering the fourth and went ahead, 87-83, on Draymond Green's putback with 5:37 left.

With the Warriors one stop and perhaps one Curry three from possibly breaking it open, James seized control of the series. He drew a foul on Festus Ezeli as he was shooting a three and converted all of his free throws. Curry's turnover led to James' go-ahead three before Klay Thompson tied it with a driving lay-up.

The teams then combined to miss 12 straight shots, one coming when James raced back to block Andre Iguodala's potential go-ahead basket. In the final 90 seconds, James missed from close range, but Cleveland regained possession with 1:09 left.

Irving finally ended a four-minute scoring drought with the biggest shot in Cavs history — a three over Curry with 53 seconds left. When Curry missed a game-tying three on the next possession, James was fouled with 10.6 seconds left and he sealed it by making one of two free throws.

"I came back for a reason," James said at the podium, surrounded by his three children on Father's Day. "I came back to bring a championship to our city. I knew what I was capable of doing."